Ryanair drops seat‑selection fee for families, seats children with parents for free

From 25 June 2026 Ryanair will no longer charge a fee for families to sit together. Passengers who travel with children will be assigned seats next to each other at no extra cost, with the allocation made after check‑in and typically in the rear rows of the aircraft. Parents who wish to choose seats in advance can still do so by paying the standard seat‑selection charge.

The change follows pressure from European aviation regulators and a UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into the previous practice of charging a £4‑£6 (≈€4‑€6) surcharge for a seat that allowed children to sit beside their parents. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said the airline is “reluctantly” adapting to the industry standard, criticizing regulators for misunderstanding consumer interests. The airline stressed that the policy aligns its family‑seating rules with most EU carriers and will not affect its overall revenue.

The new rule is expected to benefit millions of family travellers across Ryanair’s European network, removing an additional cost that had been a source of consumer complaints.